The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-28
THE NATURAL GAS QUESTION.

THE NATURAL GAS QUESTION.
good deal of east wind is being expended
about natural gas. What is wanted is East
ern money, or some other kind of money. 1t
is becoming clear that indianapolis money
will not bring gas into the city. That being
the case let anybody bring it who will spend
the money necessary to do it. When the
money is expended in and about the city in
laying the pipes and in distributing the gas to
the manufacturer and domestic consumer, the
money is thoroughly and practically domestic
capital. 1t cannot be taken away, but must
remain. The money sunk in wells and in
buying and laying pipes is thoroughly
planted" and to be profitable must be used
in furnishing and in selling gas. People will
not buy the gas unless it is to their interest
to do SO, and there must be common ground
on which the seller and buyer can meet
When the gas has been piped into Indianap-
oils it must be used here. 1t cannot
be sold anywhere else. This is
the only market, and for that rea-
son, if for no other, the seller must make the
price such as will induce the people to buy it.
If it is not sold cheaper and is not better than
wood coal, or coke, the people will stick to
wood, and COAL and coke, and won't buy the
gas.
Everyone who has given the matter careful
consideration admits that it will take nearly a
million dollars to bring gas into the city, and to
supply the people that will want it when it
can be had There is an old maxim that moth
ing is so cautious as million dollars, except
two million dollars. Is there practical, care
full, thoughtful man in this community who
believes that a million of dollars can be raised
in indianapolis, now and at once, to bring
natural gas into the city this year, If there
be such man, let him step forward and try
it, and he will find that he has undertaken a
hopeless task. The money is not here for
that purpose. No. not the half, nor the quar-
ter of it. If we get natural gas
here in time for next winters use, every
dollar of money now belonging to Indanapo-
lis, or that is in Indianapolis can find much
more profitable investment in real estate, in
manufactures, in buildings, or in half hun
dred other ways, than if it went into the
natural gas business. We want natural gas,
and we want it now. We want it this sum-
wait until next year will have missed our
opportunity, and some other city or cities
will have taken the place that belongs to us.
If an open, free-for-all ordinance is passed,
and the Standard Oil Company, or the Phila-
adelphia company, the McGuffey company, or
any other company, accept it and go to
work in good faith, and bring gas into the
city, it is very reasonable to suppose that the
company will want to sell their product.
This they cannot do unless they make it to
the interest of the people to have it. When
every dollar that any of the above named
companies, all of them, separate or to-
gether, can bring, under the most free,
open and liberal ordinance that can be passed.
has been brought to indianapolis, and with
every dollar now here or that belongs here, or
that will otherwise be attracted here with
natural gas assured, there will not be- dollar
too much. Dollars are like soldiers in battle.
To be sure of success, you never have too
many of them. Indianapolis is now struggling
for the lead in race that is being run under
new conditions, and to lead she must start as
soon as any competitor. "There is a tide in the
affairs of men land Cities as WE'LL which,
taken at the flood, leads on to fortune
omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound
in shadows and in miseries On such full
sea are we now afoat, and we must take the
current it runs, or loose venture"
Now is the time of the food-tide for Indi-
annapolis. It won't do to wait until next fall,
next year, or the next century Let US have
an open, free, liberal ordinance-one that
gives no special or perpetual franchises, but
one that will allow any company to come that
can give bond and security that they will act
in good faith, and commence operations at
once. This ordinance should properly regard
the care of the streets, and prescribe the best
and safest pipes, and machinery, and appli-
ances, and be without restriction otherwise as
to cost, that being left open to contract and
competition. Then the city may expect to be
benefited, and permanently benefited. But if
such conditions are imposed as will keep out
foreign capital, Indianapolis may well write
Ichabod on its portals.
IMPERTINENT CHATTER.
The Journal was not brought up in the
woods to be scared by owl, yet by the